Did you use a lot of salt over the winter? That would be my first guess from looking at the photos. Grubs are usually most active later in the year, and I agree with others…I would assume you would see an impact on your neighbor’s lawn if it were mold or fungus.
Fertilizing my lawn for initial spring application
- Thread starter spierceisu
- Start date
This could be a good guess as mine kinda looks like this in the vicinity of the driveway and sidewalk. Since we've gotten more ice events lately, the wife tends to salt like crazy as we have a steep driveway. It generally starts bouncing back as we get more spring rains.
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I had thought about salt but I didn't use any this year. It seems like it is just my yard so seems odd to me.
The best way to tell if it's grubs is to pull up on it. If it rips up without an effort then grubs have probably destroyed the roots. If it's still strong and rooted you likely have a different issue.
I cant imagine salt would destroy that much either, it's usually localized right in the spot where the salt was.
With pets and kids, I'm just doing organic stuff. What is something good I can pair with milorganite? I'm assuming milorganite on its own probably isn't enough. In the past I've used Innova 7-1-2 but its just too expensive.
Not looking for advice per say, but just need to vent. I'm about at wits end with my lawn. Been trying for 4 years to get it into shape and somehow manage to go backwards every year. First couple years the drought hit it hard. Thought I had finally turned the corner last year as it was looking the best it ever has and then got smacked by grubs and fall drought. Now this spring looks the worst it ever has. Somehow quack grass got introduced and it's spreading like wildfire because of how thin things are. Extremely disheartening. I'm not a "have to have the best lawn on the block" kind of guy, but it sucks to feel like you're not much better than the worst.
Yah that blows as you've put a lot of effort in and money. Some of what I'll say may be repetitive but I'll just pass along my tips as I have a good yard. Test the soil and make appropriate nourishment changes if needed. Irrigate ... either drag the hoses or put in a system if you can afford it. Don't over water ... grass should be dry by late morning or you're setting up for fungas. Don't water during heat of the day or early evening. I personally think your yard for the coming season is made in the fall so do it right. Aerate and over seed the heck out of it for several falls to come. Don't cheap out ... buy good seed and plenty of it. Use an appropriate fertilizer after this. Winterizer as you put it to bed later fall. Well timed pre emergent in spring with fertilizer. One or two fertilizer applications later spring and summer.
Good luck and dont give up!
Yes! 4 inch minimum. These folks that want fairway height and look are fooling themselves. The higher the growth the longer the root
This stuff at Menards is the same thing as milorganite but significantly cheaper.
FOREVER GREEN® Natural Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer - 2,500 sq. ft.
FOREVER GREEN® Natural Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizer is a ready-to-use fertilizer for use on: lawns, trees and shrubs, flower beds, roses, and gardens. A natural choice to fertilizing.
www.menards.com
I do 4" for the first mow or two, but then slowly get down to 3" as the year goes on. I've dug up some of my sod for landscaping and the roots are plenty long.
Ha, that's actually what I ended up getting. Was on sale for $7.00This stuff at Menards is the same thing as milorganite but significantly cheaper.
FOREVER GREEN® Natural Slow Release Nitrogen Lawn Fertilizer - 2,500 sq. ft.
FOREVER GREEN® Natural Slow Release Nitrogen Fertilizer is a ready-to-use fertilizer for use on: lawns, trees and shrubs, flower beds, roses, and gardens. A natural choice to fertilizing.
That's the problem though, people that mow it short do so because they're they don't want to do it as often.
Fairway height? Neighbor mows his to about green height. I mowed my backyard and dropped the deck down a notch just to try and even the height out. I will mow another time then put it back up two notches. I also bag my grass to get rid of all the thatch after I racked it last month.
It’s madness. Mowing the lawn is the best 3-4 hours of my week.
Anyone have recommendation for lawn service in Grimes? Life has gotten a little crazy with kids and work and looking to outsource some of this. Don’t need someone to mow, but could use some help with everything else
It’s near that price all year round. I haven’t bought milorganite for several seasons. Is it $15-20 per bag now?
Water is no doubt my limiting factor. I have a 0.4 acre lot that is irregular shaped on a corner, so I am street facing from most angles. I would essentially have to water all 0.4 acre which would cost an absolute fortune in Ames vs my neighbors that can get away with just doing a couple thousand square feet in the front of their house.
I had full intention of overseeding last fall when I aerated but it was so damn dry with no rain in the forecast that I couldn't stomach throwing away hundreds of dollars of seed.
